​Follow for live updates from the Argentina–Switzerland quarterfinal. All eyes will be on Lionel Messi as Argentina meet Switzerland in Saturday’s World Cup quarterfinal. Messi has been extraordinary this tournament, already finding the net eight times in six matches to propel Argentina into the last eight. After lifting the World Cup trophy and collecting the Golden Ball in 2022, Messi is again posing a bid for major individual and team glory in 2026, at the age of 39.
Messi is determined to guide Argentina into the final four and set up a potential clash with England on Wednesday, July 15 in Atlanta. Stay here for live commentary on Messi’s performance against Switzerland. Argentina’s starting XI remains the same as in the round-of-16 victory over Egypt: GK Dibu Martinez; DF Nahuel Molina, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez, Nicolás Tagliafico; MF Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Leandro Paredes, Alexis Mac Allister; FW Lionel Messi, Julián Álvarez.
The GOAT could have retired from international football after securing Argentina’s third title, yet he continues to push boundaries—alongside Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal—in a record-tying sixth World Cup appearance. Now plying his trade with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer, Messi celebrated his 39th birthday at this tournament and already tallied eight goals. Entering Saturday’s match, Messi has 125 goals in 204 international appearances.
The World Cup format becomes a knockout competition once the group stages end. From the remaining 32 teams, a bracket is set, and teams are eliminated in each successive round until the champion is crowned. The only exception is that the two semifinal losers meet in a third-place playoff before the final. Key dates ahead include: July 5, England versus Mexico in Mexico City; July 6, Spain versus Portugal in Arlington and Belgium versus the United States in Seattle; July 7, Argentina versus Egypt in Atlanta and Switzerland versus Colombia in Vancouver; July 9, France versus Morocco in Foxborough; July 10, Spain versus Belgium in Inglewood; July 11, England versus Norway in Miami and Argentina versus Switzerland in Kansas City; July 14, France versus Spain in Arlington; July 15, England versus Argentina or Switzerland in Atlanta; and July 19, the final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY and provides Lionel Messi World Cup statistics, highlights, and live updates for the Argentina–Switzerland quarterfinal. Stay with us for comprehensive coverage and analysis as the tournament progresses.